My Breast Cancer Journey ☺ Fight like a Girl

#breast cancer #survivor #double mastectomy #chemotherapy #DIEP flap reconstruction

Tumor ER positive

PR positive

HER2/Neu negative

KI-67 borderline

Invasive ductal carcinoma & ductal carcinoma in situ

Score 7/9 on aggressiveness (Nottingham) scale

No evidence of metastatic disease

Stage pT1bNO (sn+1)MX

Mammoprint revealed high risk for recurrence

Chemotherapy will reduce risk of recurrence by +/- 50%

Endocrine therapy risk reduction by 40-50%

My Myriad blood test (genetic testing) was drawn 11/7/16

Chemotherapy regimen ordered is Taxotere/Cytoxan/Neulasta every 21 days x 4 cycles starting 11/17/16 Depending on hormone status (lab results pending): aromotase inhibitor + Lupron vs Aromotase inhibitor alone vs Tamoxifen alone (I previously took this medication. I was diagnosed with atypical hyperplasia 7 years ago with my first breast biopsy which gives you a greater risk of developing breast cancer. Tamoxifen was prescribed for me for 5 years. After taking it for 18 months I developed a subcutaneous blood clot the entire length of my right arm. The doctor promptly took me off the medication & stated I could no longer take it due to risk of developing an even more severe blood clot in the lung called a pulmonary embolism. My oncologist says if he begins me on it again I will be prescribed an aspirin at the same time.) Interestingly enough, after I stopped taking the Tamoxifen, I saw a high risk breast specialist. I was told by having breast MRIs & mammograms alternating every 6 months & exercising regularly, I was doing everything I could do to prevent breast cancer.